That You TCBY? 5 Restaurant Chains Ready To Make Big Comebacks In Michigan

Beloved Restaurants Michigan Wants Back

When it comes to bygone chain restaurants, Michiganders would love to come back. The list is long and storied. Bill Knapps, Ground Round, Old Country Buffet, and Ponderosa are just a few places I'd like to enjoy one last meal. The good news, there are some chains you may have thought were gone forever that either making or poised for a comeback in Michigan.

Related: Remembering Michigan's Bill Knapp's, Meat Loaf, & Free Birthday Cake

At least two of these stores already have locations open that you may not have known about.

Monte Cristo, Anyone? Bennigan's Never Completely Left Michigan

While Mount Pleasant, Michigan, is home to one of the only seven brick-and-mortar locations in the world, Bennigan's is making moves in the delivery kitchen business. This is a trend among Uber Eats and DoorDash circles, where food is prepared in "ghost kitchens," often leased out in existing restaurants exclusively for delivery services.

Under CEO Paul Mangiamele's leadership, they've opened more than a dozen such locations and 15 additional restaurants internationally. The Mount Pleasant location will forever be a gathering place for Central Michigan University students and alumni.

TCBY (The Country's Best Yogurt) is Back in Michigan

The last delicious frozen treat I enjoyed was on Wisner Street in Jackson, Michigan. As best I can tell, it closed in 2010 as the chain known as TCBY, originally meaning 'This Can't Be Yogurt' and evolving to 'The Country's Best Yogurt,' experienced massive closures.

Related: Bye Bye Buffet: Remembering Michigan's Old Country Buffets

A chain that once had nearly 2,000 locations at its apex now only boasts a little more than 470. The good news is that 2 of those locations are in Michigan. If you're looking to give yourself some well-deserved TLC with a TCBY treat, you'll have to make a trip to Grosse Pointe, home to Michigan's only stores.

Blimpie Hopes to Float to the Top of Michigan's Sub Sandwich Game

Blimpie was the first big sub sandwich franchise to enter the market, with roots dating back to 1964. Despite being first to the table, its younger cousin, Subway, became the dominant chain in the genre. Blimpie did pretty well for itself in its heyday, though, boasting nearly 2,000 locations throughout the United States before multiple changes in ownership would spell many franchisees' demise.

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Today, there are only around 200 Blimpie franchise locations, with 7 open in Michigan. Blimpie is aggressively seeking interested parties looking for new opportunities.

Friendly's Comeback is Moving Inland From the East Coast

Ironically, the last time I ate at a Friendly's restaurant in Michigan, it was located directly across the street from TCBY on Wisner Street in Jackson. That location closed by the early '90s, but my memory of their delicious ice cream and birthday hospitality lingered.

Thankfully, Friendly's is slowly moving east, with locations in 11 states, including all of the New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and even Florida. With growth like that it won't be long before we're all wiping hot fudge from the corners of our mouths.

Quizno's Isn't Toasted in Michigan Yet

Yet another blink and you'll miss it sub sandwich franchise that did its best to keep up with Subway; Quizno's had over 4,000 locations throughout the United States in 2007. Today, there are a little more than 175 stores in the country and around 150 more throughout the rest of the world.

Related: Gone But Not Forgotten Michigan Born Businesses: Borders Books

Fortunately for crispy sub enthusiasts, there are 4 locations in the Detroit Metro area to satisfy your craving, with the promise of continued regrowth through franchises. What other bygone or nearly extinct businesses would you like to see make a comeback?